• Date: Sat 08 November 2008
  • Venue: Emirates Stadium
  • Ref: Webb, H
  • Attendance: 60,106
Arsenal

Arsenal

Nasri (22)

Nasri (48)

2 - 1

Arsenal vs Manchester United

Team Lineups

Arsenal

Manuel Almunia (Lukasz Fabianski, 78)
Bacary Sagna
Gael Clichy
William Gallas
Mikael Silvestre
Cesc Fabregas
Vassiriki Abou Diaby (Kolo Toure, K, 86)
Pereira Neves Denilson
Samir Nasri
Nicklas Bendtner
Theo Walcott (Alexandre Song, 77)

Manchester United

Edwin van der Sar
Gary Neville (Da Silva Rafael, 63)
Patrice Evra
Rio Ferdinand
Nemanja Vidic
Luis de Abreu Anderson (Ryan Giggs, 72)
Michael Carrick
Cristiano Ronaldo
Wayne Rooney (Carlos Tevez, 77)
Dimitar Berbatov
Ji-Sung Park


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Howard Webb blows the full time whitsle and the Arsenal players celebrate as they hang on to take all three points in a frantic match which could have easily gone either way.

90

A great pass from Nasri releases Bendtner who goes past Vidic and Ferdinand before ballooning the ball over from 10 yards.

90

Lovely cross in from Park towards the far post looks to have caught out the Arsenal defence but Fabianski comes off his line well to claim.

90

Arsenal have another chance on the counter with Fabregas picking out Denilson on the edge of the penalty area but the Brazilian midfielder can only fire it straight at van der Sar.

90

The fourth official indicates there will be six minutes of added on time.

89
Goal
 

Rafael scores a spectacular volley from just inside the penalty area after Arsenal failed to clear their lines as United keep putting the Gunners under pressure.

88

Giggs with a corner for United is cleared away to Park on the edge of the area which Park tries to strike but slips and Arsenal can clear.

85
Substitution
 

Arsenal make their final change of the half with Kolo Toure coming on in place of Abou Diaby as they try to ride out the United storm.

84

The corner is easily cleared by United and nearly manage to launch a quick counter attack only for a brilliant tackle from Rafael to stop the move in full flow.

84

Ronaldo has a chance to pull one back for United from a freekick 30 yards out but it deflects off the top of the wall and goes out for a corner.

81

Bendtner has a good chance to wrap things up for Arsenal after cutting inside Ferdinand but hitting a tame shot which Van der Sar simply saves.

79

Arsenal break forward with Nasri presented with a chance to pull the ball back for Fabregas but a great interception from Rafael denies the Spanish midfielder a good chance.

77
Substitution
 

Surprise change for Arsenal with Manuel Almunia forced off after being unable to shake off the effects of that boot from Carrick and Lukasz Fabianski comes on.

77
Substitution
 

Arsenal make their first change with Theo Walcott coming off on his return from a shoulder injury and Alex Song coming on in his place.

76
Substitution
 

United make their final change of the match with Wayne Rooney coming off and Carlos Tevez coming on in his place, Rooney does not look happy.

73

Arsenal have their own shout for a penalty after Nasri bundles his way past Vidic only for the United defender to pull him back inside the box, however referee Howard Webb waves away any protests as United head up the other end.

72
Substitution
 

United make their second change of the match with Anderson going off and Ryan Giggs comes on in his place.

71

Arsenal have an extended spell of possession around the United penalty area but Bendtner's eventual cross is a waste as United easily clear.

65
Yellow Card
 

Carrick gets himself a booking for the kick on Almunia but the England midfielder was entitled to go for it but Howard Webb sees it differently and Carrick goes in the book.

65

Rooney swings in a corner for United and Almunia comes for it through a crowd, doesn't take it cleanly the first time but dives on it at the second attempt but takes a boot to the head from Carrick who is swinging for the ball.

62
Substitution
 

Gary Neville is brought off after being tormented by Nasri and on in his place comes Da Silva Rafael.

61

Arsenal fail to clear their lines allowing Berbatov to cross the ball in from the left, finding Rooney unmarked but his downwards header is straight at Almunia who makes another simple save.

60

Great play by United again who are on top at the moment, Ronaldo and Park combining to allow the Portuguese winger to cut the ball back but its a poor cross and Almunia can claim it low down at his near post.

56

Another half chance for United as Ronaldo clips a cross in for Rooney who just can't get enough on it with his head as Gallas clears it away.

55

Rooney has yet another effort for United, creating half a yard for himself on the edge of the penalty area but managing to only fire it over from 18 yards.

53

Arsenal are presented with yet another chance from the corner, Diaby beating Van der Sar to the ball at the near post but can only head it over from close range.

52

Arsenal launch another quick counter-attack from the corner and Diaby sprints down the right with three red shirts ahead of him but can't pick out any of them as Anderson is forced to put it behind.

52

Rooney floats in a corner towards the penalty spot but Almunia comes out to punch the ball clear.

51
Yellow Card
 

Clichy goes into the book after a badly timed sliding tackle from the French left back catches Ronaldo.

48

Ronaldo misses a great chance to pull one back for United after a cross field pass picks him out at the far post but the Portuguese winger can't bend it in from a tight angle.

47
Goal
 

Nasri grabs his second goal of the game with a lovely finish from just inside the penalty area after a lovely pass from Fabregas cut the United defence to piece leaving the French winger with plenty of time and space to pick his spot and slam it home

45

Arsenal start the second half brightly with a series of corners taken by Fabregas, although they are unable to get a red head on either of the two set pieces.

Second half
 

Arsenal get the second half underway knowing that they can't keep giving United the chances they have done, lets hope for a second half that can match the first.

Half time
 

Howard Webb draws an excellent first half to a close where both sides have created hatfuls of chances but Nasri's goal has been the only one so far and the Gunners lead at the break.

44

Walcott gives the ball away in a dangerous position, allowing Anderson to drive into the penalty area and drive the ball towards goal but Almunia does well to hold the effort at his near post.

43

Ronaldo nearly works an opening for himself, twisting and turning before poking the ball towards goal only for Gallas to clear it away as the ball headed towards goal.

40

Clichy gets forward again and puts in another brilliant cross towards the far post for Walcott who tries to take the shot on the volley but can only fire it into the ground and over the bar.

40
Yellow Card
 

Sagna goes into the referee's book after pulling back Park after he had gotten away from the French full back.

38
Yellow Card
 

Evra is the first United player to be booked, after bringing down Walcott.

38

Fabregas swings in a corner from the right for Arsenal which United fail to deal with again, the ball dropping to Silverstre inside the box but the former United man can't make his club pay and tamely plays it towards goal for Van der Sar to the save

37

Diaby breaks from the midfield and heads towards before being brought down by Carrick, fortunately for the United midfielder the referee feels Diaby took a dive and allows play to continue. Replays show that Carrick caught him though.

34

Fabregas brings down Ronaldo out on the left hand side, the Portuguese international takes the freekick he won trying to bend it in but its a comfortable save for Almunia at his near post.

33

United break forward with Park carrying it to the edge of the peanlty area before firing one in from just inside the peanlty area only for Almunia to pull off a great one handed save at full stretch before Arsenal clear.

32

The game has gone a little quiet for the first time since the opening five minutes as Sagna floats in a cross which but it drifts out of play.

28

Arsenal break forward from the United corner after the visitors have a penalty appeal turned down with Fabregas ending up hitting one just inches wide with a low strike from the edge of the penalty area.

27

Ronaldo whips in a freekick which goes right across the the face of goal and is nearly turned in by Clichy whose defensive header nearly creeps in at the far post.

26
Yellow Card
 

Gallas becomes the first player to go into the referee's book after a badly timed sliding tackle on Evra.

22
Goal
 

ARSENAL 1-0 MAN UTD, NASRI gives Arsenal the lead after United fail to clear a Fabregas free-kick, the ball fell to the French winger who fired it in from the edge of the area, the ball deflecting off Neville and past Van der Sar.

20

Ronaldo bursts down the right for United, skipping past Clichy before driving in a low cross. This time Almunia does well to come out and claim the ball low down to deny Berbatov a tap-in.

17

What a miss! Lovely build-up play from United with Anderson, Berbatov and Ronaldo all involved in the move but the ball arrives to Rooney on the edge of the area who only manages to sky it high over the bar, another great chance in a pulsating match.

14

Fabregas floats in a freekick from wide on the right which Van der Sar comes to punch away but only gives it straight to Diaby inside the penalty area, his first time strike though is blocked by a number of blue shirts as United escape unscathed.

12

Arsenal again expose United with a great cross from Nasri, this time Diaby and Bendtner both miss their headers and the ball drifts out of play, another great chance for the Gunners though.

11

Anderson floats in a corner for United as the game goes from end-to-end, Silvestre heads it away but only to Rooney on the edge of the area, his shot on the volley ends up flying high and wide though, poor effort.

10

Bendtner misses an absolutly brilliant chance with his head after Clichy picked him out with a great cross only for the Danish forward to head it over, unmarked, from eight yards.

9

Ronaldo has a strike from a long way out after Denilson gave away the freekick 30 yards from goal, the United wingers strike ends up bending well wide in the end.

7

Arsenal get a very lucky escape after being cut apart by United Rooney forces Almunia into a good save at full stretch but only palms the ball out to Berbatov who slots it home only for the linesman to raise his flag and deny the former Spurs man.

5

Gallas plays a long ball over the top looking for the run of Walcott but the ball skips off the wet surface through to Van der Sar who collects with ease on the edge of the penalty area.

2

Anderson has a shot from the freekick which the Brazilian drives into the wall, the ball rebounding to Carrick who on the half volley strikes it just wide of Almunia's left hand post.

1

Silvestre plays Arsenal into some early trouble after selling Almunia short with a backpass, the goalkeeper slides out to catch the ball and Howard Webb awards the freekick inside the area around 16 yards out.

Kickoff
 

Well after the minutes silence, as it is memorial weekend, referee Howard Webb gets the game underway here at the Emirates Satdium with Arsenal knowing another defeat could end their title chances.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Man Utd XI: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Anderson, Carrick, Park, Rooney, Berbatov

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Manchester United make seven changes from the side that drew against Celtic with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov coming in to the lead the attack as they go for their first win at the Emirates.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Arsenal XI: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Diaby, Bendtner

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Arsenal have won just 2 out of the last 12 games against Man Utd but are boosted by the returing trio of Bacray Sagna, Theo Walcott and William Gallas but the Gunners will be without Robin van Persie and Emannuel Adebayor.